The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-28
Poin. of History settled.

To the Editor of the indianapolis journal:
With no purpose to enter upon debate upos
the question Of the legality Of the election held
last November for L;eutenant-governor, bat
solely to correct some erroneous statements
made by the press in discussing the subject, ]
write you this.
A few days ago the indianapolis News-a paper
usually very accurate in it's statements Of politi.
cal history-in an article the Smith Robert
son imbroelio referred to the resignation of Jesse
D. Bright as Leutenant-governor and the cleo
tion of Godiove s. Ortiz as President of the Sen,
ate, and declared it to be parallel case to the !.
one it was then discussing. Again: A writer 10
Saturdays Sentinel, under the caption Tive
Precedents for the Journal says:
s.In IS45 the Office OF governor was
vacated by the late Jesse D. Bright just as Gen.
Manson vacated it two years ago. No party
thought of so superfuous operation as elect
ing a successor till the regular August electoa
of 1916. Nothing was done or said about il by
either party in the regular annual election OF 40.
The Constitution of that time and this was
identical as to the election and duties Of ths
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
As the legality of the election held for Lieu
tenant governor in November, 1877. and ques
tions growing out of it, will be largely discussed
in the campaign which is to follow, and the
foregoing statements. If not corrected, will have
the effect to mislead the public, l have taken
the trouble to critically examine the Brigks.
Ortiz case. and this is the results
Under tho old Constitution of Indiana State
elections were held in August Of each year, and
the Legislature met the ensuing December
governor, was elected United States Senator
A~l
March, and three days afterwards. to-wit, Dec.
g. l845, he resigned the lieutenant governorship
At that time the Senate was equally divided in
politics. and ninety-eisht unsuccessful ballota
were taken for president of the Senate. An
agreement Was then made whereby Wing wal
to be elected and hold his seat for thirty days
and then resign and give place to Democrat
According to this accommodation, on the 18th o
December 1915, the Senate took the ninety nintt
ballot and elected Mr.. Ortiz President OF the SEN
ate. Democrats and Wings alike voting for him,
He held the place until January IL, 1846, and
then. in accordance with the agreement re-
| signed. whereupon the Senate elected James G.
| Read in his stead, who held the Office until the
| inauguration of Paris G. Dunninc who was
| elected Leutenantgovernori in August, 1876, on
| the ticket with Governor Whitcomb. Thus il
| will be seen that the Bright Orth case is NOT
| analogous to that Of Smith Robinson, inasmccE
| as general election took place between the
| ernor and Lieutenant governor.
| 1t may not be without interest to say that Mr..
| Ortiz while President Of the Senate, was nomi.
mated for Lieutenant governor by the Wha
State convention, and that IN resignirg the pres
| idency of tho Senate he ''smiinely remarked
| that he felt but little pain at the separation
| which was to take place between him and the
| duties of the chair, as he soon expected to be
called by the people to occupy it again, inasmuch
| as the election i'll August WAS to determine who
was to be the occupant" But he doomed to
| disappointment He had opposed the passage
Of the Butler bill in the Senate, and this aetion
had arrayed against him such large element Of
his party that his political friends forced MIN
off the ticket In letter to Governor Wallace,
the chairman of the Wing State central commit.
tee. dated May A. 1886 he said: "The success Of
our principles. in which feel deep and abis1
ing interest, as we'll as justice to myself, de-
mands the step have takenr (His decnation. J
1t is singular fact that both times Mr.. Ortiz
| was nominated for State ofice-in 1886 fot
Lieutenant governor, and in 1876 for Governor
he was forced off his ticket by his political asso-
ciates. If there be a parallel to this in the po.
! litical history of the State am aware of it.
| INDIANAPOLIS, March &c W. w. w.